Industries Minister Bikram Singh said that the state government is going to organise first global investors meet at Dharamshala in June, 2019 to present Himachal Pradesh as the model industrial hub before the investors.He was speaking as a Chief Guest during the cultural evening organised today in Indian International Trade Fair-2018 on the occasion of Himachal State Day at New Delhi.The Minister said that Himachal Pradesh had various advantages like easy access to the governess transparent functioning, better law and order situation and uninterrupted power supply etc. which makes the state as favourite destination for investment.He said that presently there are around 48500 industrial units in the state with an investment of rupees 3200 crore which have given direct employment to more than four lakh people. The state government is making efforts to strengthen the service sector along with the industry as the contribution of the service sector in the state gross domestic production has increased from 5.9 percent to 44 percent. The government has also launched the schemes with a view to make investment easy and cost friendly in the industrial sector, which has helped in providing self-employment opportunities to the youth.
Bikram Singh said that eight incubators have been established in the state to promote Pradhan Mantri Startup scheme in the state and so far eight startups have launched their products in the market. The startup rally is being organised in the state in different colleges and universities from 14 to 30 November, 2018 and so far 922 future entrepreneurs have got themselves registered.He said that the state government has recently notified Channor in Kangra district as new industrial area where local youth would be encouraged to set up industrial units.The minister added that the state has also been able to make improvement in the field of ease of business and this year's implementation score remained 99.13 percent which was 65.89 percent during previous year. The state was ranked on top during a recent survey in fast moving state and the government is making efforts that state achieves new heights in industrial development.He earlier visited the Himachal pavilion and took information of the exhibitions.Additional Chief Secretary, Industries Manoj Kumar, Director Industries Hans Raj Sharma, Joint Director Tilak Raj Sharma were also present on the occasion.